driving with TS
Question:
My Sarah is 16 1/2 and has been putting off getting her learners permit (she could have gotten it at 15). She FINALLY admitted to me she is afraid to drive because of her TS and OCD. She is afraid she will just stop looking at the road and focus on something else, or have a tic that will interfere with her driving. Any thoughts on this? Thank you, Jean
Response:
Jean: Just about all of us with TS drive. Certainly it sometimes challenges us, but we all do fine. Sarah will too. It’s hard to believe that when I met Sarah, she was only 13. How time flies. Gary
Response:
>My Sarah is 16 1/2 and has been putting off getting her learners permit (she >could have gotten it at 15). She FINALLY admitted to me she is afraid to >drive because of her TS and OCD. She is afraid she will just stop looking at >the road and focus on something else, or have a tic that will interfere with >her driving. Any thoughts on this? >Thank you, >Jean
Wish I did. But I’m hoping that someone does. Buddy, at 11-1/2, just expressed that same concern on Saturday. Barb
Response:
Jean Holstein <JHOLST…@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:7uDm6.24914$Bz2.6226531@typhoon.southeast.rr.com… > My Sarah is 16 1/2 and has been putting off getting her learners permit (she > could have gotten it at 15). She FINALLY admitted to me she is afraid to > drive because of her TS and OCD. She is afraid she will just stop looking at > the road and focus on something else, or have a tic that will interfere with > her driving. Any thoughts on this? > Thank you, > Jean
Jean, this is not uncommon in the new driver. I’ve spoken with a number of young people with this same fear. All of them are driving routinely now. The anxiety makes it worse. Once they get used to driving, the anxiety lessens, and so does the worry. I suggest that Sarah take some time driving with you or someone else for a while, until she gets more confidence about it. She will. She’ll learn what she can and can’t do. The odds of her having some sort of accident because of her conditions are pretty slim, really. The odds of her having an accident because of some yahoo out there who runs a red light are much, much greater. And you can tell her I said that…once she learns ‘defensive driving.’ "-) KAT in CT
Response:
On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 01:33:55 GMT, "Jean Holstein" <JHOLST…@nc.rr.com> wrote: >My Sarah is 16 1/2 and has been putting off getting her learners permit (she >could have gotten it at 15). She FINALLY admitted to me she is afraid to >drive because of her TS and OCD. She is afraid she will just stop looking at >the road and focus on something else, or have a tic that will interfere with >her driving. Any thoughts on this?
I have an awful time driving becuase of my tics. I have a head tic in which I turn to look at the passenger side mirror. However, I do this every 15-20 seconds on average. I didn’t have this until about 3 years ago. Fortunately for me, my left hand doesn’t move during this tic, so the car continues in a straight line. I’m always afraid that the person in front of me will stop suddenly, whilst my head is turned. It hasn’t happened yet, though. I just leave a little more room than I used to. -Greg G — -Greg "Y2Krankor" Gershowitz To Reply: pull THE PLUG http://www.geocities.com/torcha.geo (My personal site) http://tourettic.homestead.com/ (The unofficial AST site) "Much of Twister’s footage was done in the digital domain, with 1s representing incompetence and 0s representing crap." – Mike Nelson (also applies to SW:TPM)
Response:
Dear Jean, I’m not quite sure if you’re serious about the "deserted road." But, that is exactly where I first learned to drive. With a parent, and in a place where there is no other traffic at all, I was free to make all those little mistakes everyone does when they very first start driving (mistakes like stepping on the brakes every 2 seconds, and goofy little things like that). I’m sure it looked very funny, this slow moving car coming to a sudden stop every few seconds. But no one was there to see it, there was no traffic to worry about, and thankfully my dad didn’t get too frustrated. Even better for first tries is anyone’s very large yard that they don’t mind getting driven on. My daughter will be getting her license in a year and I’ve already started her driving the car in our horse pasture (sans the horses, of course). For me, anyway, it made it much easier to already know how to coordinate all the various things (wheel, gas, brake, etc.) when I started driver’s ed. Also, that initial "awkwardness" was already worked out, along with most anxiety. Now if you weren’t serious about the deserted road, well…….hmm, I just solidified my membership in the idiot’s club. Warm Regards, Lisa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Subject: Re: driving with TS >From: "Jean Holstein" JHOLST…@nc.rr.com >Date: 2/27/01 12:35 PM Eastern Standard Time >Message-id: <fzRm6.137$__6.73…@typhoon.southeast.rr.com> >She has been so busy with school plays and such she hasn’t had *time* to go >to driver’s ed. Now that the plays are done I’ll check into it and see if >she’ll go. I might even take her out myself on some deserted road. >Jean
Response:
yes I was serious about the deserted road. I learned to drive in front of my father’s dental office in the parking lot on Sundays. Jean
Response:
Jean Holstein <JHOLST…@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_WWm6.1215$__6.300846@typhoon.southeast.rr.com… > yes I was serious about the deserted road. I learned to drive in front of my > father’s dental office in the parking lot on Sundays. > Jean
I learned to drive when I was TEN years old, in an old US Army Willy’s surplus jeep, over a plowed (but fallow) field at the family farm. Best learnin’ in the world. Couldn’t hit, or hurt anything, including the Jeep, and it was a lot of FUN! KAT in CT
Response:
I tic to the right, even on one-way streets to the left. Better extra ticcing safe than sorry! Most drivers with TS will overcompensate and learn to adjust their ticcing to the road situations, and do it safely,. Being a passenger with a TS driver can be terrifying, until one realizes that the driver is often a better driver because of all she is picking up on and compensating for. ADD can be a bit more difficult…and can add other factors that distract the driver and in combo with TS, create a greater need to focus and tic and drrive safely. Maybe checking with your local chapter to see if an adult with TS would be willing to go out with a young driver, and give them some tips, coping strategies, compensation techniques, and, very importantly, knowledge of what to do and say and NOT do and say when a cop stops you (it will probably happen eventually to a younger driver, so teaching the kid how to act, how not to panic, and what to say *should* the situation arise is a smart thing to do). Just a few tips before I finihs my OATmeal! If stopped by a cop: 1) Take a deep breath. 2) Put the car in PARK! 2) Take off any sunglasses 3) Turn off the radio. 4) Put out a cigarette if you are smoking. 5) Put BOTH hands on the wheel 6)Let him speak first. Greet him respectfully 7) DON"T make any excuses after he asks for your license and registration. 
IF you have obvious motor/vocal tics, and they are obvious, TELL HIM. -Simply say, calmly, "Office, I just want you to know I have a medical condtion and it makes me move or make noises sometimes, especially when I’m nervous (or scared)". Despite some people’s fear about license being yanked, he will find oout anyway and you DON’T want him to think you are drinking or drugging!. 9) Talk slowly, lower your voice, and answer any questions he asked WITHOUT making excuses. Cops have heard them all. If you did something, he’s going to ticket you IF he has to. The more honest you are, apologetic, and respectful, the LESS likely he is to ticket you. You might just get a warning which doesn’t cost anything and does not leave a mark on your record. 10) DON"T blame what he stopped you for on another driver (she cut me off). 11) IF you were speeding, and he knows it, simply say, "I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was rushing." (DON’t use the word "speeding"). 12) If you get upset, and start to cry, that’s OK, but try not to get hysterical. 13) Let him drive away first. You’ll be more nervous if he pulls out behind you. Sitting there for a few minutes to compose yourself is a good idea. 14) remember that driving is a priviledge, and sometimes being stopped is a nice wake-up call to warn you that you were nort driving safely, and have to slow down, be more careful, etc. 15) Don’t worry about your license being pulled. Chances are he did not stop you for ticcing. And, if he DID, then try to either limit your driving to when your tics are better, or find strategies for ticcing when the car isn’t moving, etc. Worst case scenario, you appeal to DMV. I hope this helps. Jo
Response:
> Maybe checking with your local chapter to see if an adult with TS would be > willing to go out with a young driver,
Actually, I think this is an example of a terribly underutilized ’service’ that adults with TS would be able to perform, if only someone would ask us. This, and many other ways to ‘mentor’ kids ‘just like us.’ KAT in CT
Response:
Thanks Jo. Those are great ideas. I was stopped for speeding several months ago and learned a long time ago to be nice. Anyway, after he gave me the ticket he was almost apologetic and thank me for being so nice! Jean
Response:
On Wed, 28 Feb 2001 13:32:35 GMT, "Joanne Cohen" <joco…@mediaone.net> wrote: >Just a few tips before I finihs my OATmeal!
’Cause it’s the right thing to do. -Greg G — -Greg "Y2Krankor" Gershowitz To Reply: pull THE PLUG http://www.geocities.com/torcha.geo (My personal site) http://tourettic.homestead.com/ (The unofficial AST site) "Much of Twister’s footage was done in the digital domain, with 1s representing incompetence and 0s representing crap." – Mike Nelson (also applies to SW:TPM)
Response:
On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 15:16:17 GMT, "Jean Holstein" <JHOLST…@nc.rr.com> wrote: >thanks KAT. Unfortunatley in NC they have to go though driver’s ed (she’s >goen through all but 2 hours of it) then several hours driving with the >driver’s ed teacher BEFORE they can get their learners. I might find a >deserted road and take her out myself so she can see it’s not so scary!
Is that a requirement? I didn’t know that. I took driver’s ed up in NY, becuase I wanted to be able to drive early, but it wasn’t required to get a license. but my tics weren’t so bad at that time. Orap is a wonderful thing, at least for me. -Greg G — -Greg "Y2Krankor" Gershowitz To Reply: pull THE PLUG http://www.geocities.com/torcha.geo (My personal site) http://tourettic.homestead.com/ (The unofficial AST site) "Much of Twister’s footage was done in the digital domain, with 1s representing incompetence and 0s representing crap." – Mike Nelson (also applies to SW:TPM)
Response:
LisaViger <lisavi…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010227181216.02608.00000159@ng-cs1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dear Jean, > I’m not quite sure if you’re serious about the "deserted road." But, that > is exactly where I first learned to drive. > With a parent, and in a place where there is no other traffic at all, I > was free to make all those little mistakes everyone does when they very first > start driving (mistakes like stepping on the brakes every 2 seconds, and goofy > little things like that). > I’m sure it looked very funny, this slow moving car coming to a sudden > stop every few seconds. But no one was there to see it, there was no traffic to > worry about, and thankfully my dad didn’t get too frustrated. > Even better for first tries is anyone’s very large yard that they don’t > mind getting driven on. My daughter will be getting her license in a year and > I’ve already started her driving the car in our horse pasture (sans the horses, > of course). > For me, anyway, it made it much easier to already know how to coordinate > all the various things (wheel, gas, brake, etc.) when I started driver’s ed. > Also, that initial "awkwardness" was already worked out, along with most > anxiety. > Now if you weren’t serious about the deserted road, well…….hmm, I just > solidified my membership in the idiot’s club. > Warm Regards, > Lisa, My first time behind the wheel( legally) the instructr took me into
downtown Providence RI traffic at 3pm…..Do or Die was his motto, so I did!
Response:
Does anyone know what the situation is in the UK with obtaining a driving licence. I have head jerking tics but no ADD / OCD. Is there an official statement on TS people driving or is each case assessed individually by the DVLA. Thanks, Graeme.
Response:
Yes, I think in NY you can get your learners and the next day go get your license (at least that is what my Dad did many years ago!!) Here in NC now you have to have driver’s ed, get your learners and if you are under 18 wait one year before you can get you license. Then it’s provisional for 6 months as to what times of the day you can drive. Jean
